Whether you are looking for the perfect refreshing summer drink, something to help you relax and wind down in the evening, or needing a natural way to maintain your electrolyte levels for better hydration, this is the drink for you! With minerals from mineral-rich sea salt, refreshing and healing herbs like mint and lemon balm, delicious sweetness from pure maple syrup, paired with the tart unmistakable taste of lemons, this might just become your new favorite lemonade.
Staying hydrated is a key to good health
Living in Utah, especially during the summer, I constantly feel like I am needing to drink gallons of water just to feel a little bit hydrated. And now that I am pregnant this summer, I am feeling that times a thousand! My husband also works outside in the extreme summer conditions we have here and my kids and I are always out on hikes with the dog or playing at the local parks. Needless to say, I was in search of a drink like lemonade, but didn’t have as much sugar, and could help restore electrolyte levels and boost our hydration.
Staying properly hydrated is important for several reasons, including:
- Regulates body temperature and prevents overheating during physical activity
- It aids in digestion and can prevent constipation
- Helps improve concentration and cognitive function
- Can help prevent headaches and migraines
- Is essential for healthy, glowing skin and can improve its overall appearance
- Aids in preventing kidney stones and urinary tract infections
If you are currently pregnant and reading this, then you should know that staying properly hydrated while pregnant is very important for many reasons, including:
- Proper hydration is crucial for both the expectant mother and the growing fetus
- Can help prevent or reduce common pregnancy discomforts, such as constipation and swelling
- Reduces the risk of preterm labor and premature birth
- Helps maintain healthy levels of amniotic fluid, which acts as a cushion and protector of your growing baby
- Proper hydration can help boost energy levels and reduce fatigue
- Staying hydrated can improve overall maternal health and reduce the risk of postpartum complications
Ingredient Benefit Breakdown
Mint
Mint is an herb that has many nutritional benefits and healing properties, which is why it has been used for thousands of years in teas, salves, tonics, and more. A very easy to grow herb and is best in a container garden, plant mint where it won’t grow out of control. Mint will take over your garden if you let it, so its best if its well-contained! Here are some of the benefits of incorporating mint into your diet and wellness routines:
- Great digestive aid and helps soothe upset stomachs
- Has natural antibacterial properties and is commonly used to freshen breath
- When ingested as a tea, mint can help relieve stress and improve focus
- In skincare products, mint is used to help reduce inflammation and redness
- Can be used to help reduce fevers and relieve symptoms of the common cold
- Is delicious, comforting, and refreshing in a lot of our favorite drinks and desserts!
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is another type of herb that has similar healing and medicinal properties as mint. As the name indicates, lemon balm has a subtle citrusy flavor that adds a crispness and brightness to recipes. Lemon balm is easy to grow and is perfect for container gardens so that you can enjoy the benefits of lemon balm all summer long, or if you dry it, all year long. Here are some of the benefits of incorporating lemon balm into your diet and wellness routines:
- When enjoyed as a tea, lemon balm is great for relaxation and reducing anxiety
- Improves memory and supports cognitive function
- Helps reduce stress and promotes better sleep, and is safe to use during pregnancy
- Natural remedy for digestive issues
- As a tincture, can help manage symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps
Lemon
Obviously lemon is in this recipe since it is technically a lemonade, but lemons have amazing nutritional properties, so it is worth highlighting a few.
- Drinking lemon water daily aids the body’s detoxification process and digestive function
- Lemons are high in Vitamin C, which boosts immunity and helps fight infections
- Used in aromatherapy to help reduce stress and anxiety
- Drinking lemon water before a meal may help in weight loss
- Lemons contain flavonoids which may have anti-cancer properties
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is the ingredient that adds the sweetness to this delicious and refreshing drink, but did you know that pure maple syrup has amazing nutritional benefits as well? Lets take a look at a few:
- Provides several essential minerals and antioxidants to the body
- Contains high levels of zinc, which helps to strengthen the immune system
- Has a lower glycemic index, so it is a good alternative sweetener for people with diabetes
- Contains polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory properties
To really get the most nutritional benefits out of maple syrup, make sure you are using a high-quality, pure maple syrup and not something like maple flavored syrup, that may not contain any actual maple syrup at all.
Sea Salt
Now, sea salt may seem like a surprising ingredient in lemonade, but the truth is, sea salt is a crucial element to this being a hydrating lemonade, versus just a regular lemonade, and here is why:
- Rich in minerals like magnesium and potassium, which are two of the critical minerals that must be maintained at proper levels for optimum hydration
- Aids digestion by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes and supports the absorption of nutrients
- Helps reduce inflammation in the body
- Helps regulate blood sugar levels
In order to get the most health benefits out of sea salt, you will want to use a high-quality sea salt that is naturally high in minerals and unrefined. We use Redmond Real Salt in our house because I know that its full of vital electrolytes and minerals and hasn’t had all of the goodness stripped away. It has a great taste and I use it in all of my cooking, baking, and drink making.
Sip and Enjoy!
This hydrating mint and lemon balm lemonade checks so many good boxes for your overall health. Unlike traditional lemonade that contains a lot of refined sugar, drinking this mint and lemon balm lemonade will enrich your overall health and not take away from it. Of course, if you find it is not quite sweet enough, feel free to add more maple syrup until it fits your liking. I tend to like my lemonade a little more on the tart side, but there is nothing from stopping you from making this drink how you like it. If you make this recipe, I would love to know what you think!
Hydrating Mint and Lemon Balm Lemonade
Description
Whether you are looking for the perfect refreshing summer drink, something to help you relax, relieve stress, or wind down in the evening, or needing to maintain your electrolyte levels for better hydration, this is the drink for you! With minerals from mineral-rich sea salt, refreshing and healing herbs like mint and lemon balm, delicious sweetness from pure maple syrup, paired with the tart unmistakable taste of lemons, this might just become your new favorite lemonade.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Make the mint and lemon balm tea
Boil 1.5 cups of water, either on the stove or in a kettle. After the water has just come to a boil, pour over the mint and tea leaves in a heat safe glass container and let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. The tea will turn a beautiful light green color once it has fully steeped.
I use a Bodum tea press to prepare all of my loose leaf and fresh leaf teas. We got ours as a wedding present, and almost 13 years later, it has survived several moves and LOTS of cups of tea. I highly recommend getting a tea press if you like fresh leaf or loose leaf teas. I also use mine to make fresh ginger root tea or fresh turmeric root tea.Â
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Add Maple Syrup to the warm tea
If you didn't use a tea filter or tea press, use a slotted spoon to remove your tea leaves from the freshly brewed tea. Pour the tea into a heat safe glass jar or pitcher, something that is large enough to hold the full 6.5 cups of liquid. To the tea, add four tablespoons of maple syrup and stir until the syrup is fully dissolved.Â
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Combine everything
Next, add the 1 cup of lemon juice and 4 cups of water to the pitcher. Stir until fully combined. The final step is to add the sea salt and stir once again until dissolved.
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Chill or Serve over ice
Now, all that is left to do is to either put the whole pitcher into the fridge to chill for about an hour or so, or serve immediately over ice. Cheers to staying hydrated! Enjoy!
